Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla trekking involves hiking through forests and mountains to see endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. It is a highly sought-after activity for many tourists visiting or planning to visit Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo. Many people include it on their must-do lists. Gorilla trekking often features as a highlight on most safaris to Africa. Mountain gorillas are endangered primates found only in the Virunga ranges and the Albertine Rift montane forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. They are exclusively located in Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Where can mountain gorillas be found?

These gorillas inhabit high-altitude montane and bamboo forests in the Virunga conservation area, which includes extinct volcanic mountains along the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, plus Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. In Congo, they reside within Virunga National Park, while in Rwanda, they are found in Volcanoes National Park.

In Uganda, they live in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, part of the Virunga ranges, and in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Notably, Bwindi is home to more than half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. All these parks are dedicated to conserving these endangered animals, with ongoing efforts to ensure their long-term survival.

Gorilla trekking in Congo: The Democratic Republic of Congo, located in Central Africa and named after the Congo River, has experienced civil unrest but is increasingly stabilizing, improving its tourism prospects. Gorilla trekking takes place in Virunga National Park, a true wilderness sanctuary. After being closed to tourists in May 2018, the park reopened in 2019, allowing gorilla tracking again.

Located in Kinshasa, the capital, Virunga hosts eight habituated gorilla groups that visitors can track, such as Kabirizi, Humba, Rugendo, Mapuwa, Lulengo, Munyaga, Nyakamwe, and Bageni. Permits for gorilla tracking can be purchased at the park headquarters. Besides gorilla trekking, visitors can enjoy activities like hiking Mount Nyiragongo with its massive lava lake, bird watching to see endemic species like the handsome francolin, and game drives to spot animals like pelicans and antelopes.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda: Rwanda is among the lucky few countries home to gentle mountain gorillas. Situated in Central and East Africa, it borders Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and Congo. Gorilla trekking is available in Volcanoes National Park, which is home to over 150 habituated mountain gorillas divided into ten families. The park is roughly a three-hour drive from Kigali International Airport, in districts including Burera, Musanze, Rubavu, and Nyabihu.

Covering about 160 square kilometers, Volcanoes National Park contains five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains—Karisimbi, Muhabura, Bisoke, Gahinga, and Sabinyo—and visitors often include hiking these volcanic peaks in their gorilla safaris.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda: Uganda offers trekking experiences in two national parks: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi is the most popular, as it hosts more habituated gorilla groups than Mgahinga, and over half of the world’s mountain gorilla population resides there. Visiting both parks can be very rewarding, as each offers a unique experience. Bwindi has over 14 habituated gorilla families across its four sectors: Buhoma, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Ruhija. Mgahinga has one gorilla group-the Nyakagyezi—and permits are limited, reducing crowding.

When is the best time to trek mountain gorillas?

The dry season, from June to September and December to January, is ideal because roads are more accessible, and dense vegetation doesn’t hinder movement. Although the parks are rainforests and can rain anytime, using 4WD vehicles is recommended.

How much is a gorilla trekking permit?

The cost varies by country. In Uganda, permits are $800 for non-resident foreigners, $700 for residents, UGX300,000 for East Africans, and $500 for Africans. In Rwanda, permits are $1,500 regardless of nationality. Congo permits cost $400 for all, with Congo citizens paying just $150. Permits can be bought from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Rwanda Development Board, or directly at Congo park headquarters.

When should I book my permit?

Since gorilla trekking is highly popular, it’s best to book 3-4 months in advance, or up to two years ahead. Last-minute bookings are usually not available.

What is the age restriction?

Only individuals aged 15 and above are allowed to track gorillas. Anyone older than 15 and physically capable can participate, regardless of age. Those with limited mobility or elderly visitors can hire porters to carry them on stretchers.

How many people are allowed per group?

Only eight people can trek with a single gorilla group each day to minimize stress and disease transmission.

What should I bring? For a successful safari, it’s essential to carry gear such as…

• Hiking boots for easy walking. Do not be tempted to carry sandals or open shoes
•  Hand gloves to help you have firm grips on the walking rod and to avoid getting reactions from the various vegetation you are likely to get a hold of when on the hike.
• Long sleeved shirts and blouses to protect you from thorny bushes and insect bites.
• Rain jackets for the ever-changing weather in these rainforests
• Sunglasses and hat to protect you from the direct sun
• Long pants and stockings tacked into boots to prevent bites by ground insects and crawlies, or the very nasty nettles in Rwanda.
• Energy giving snacks and water for refreshment since the hike will be very tiring and take longer hours

The items you carry for the gorilla trekking safari can either make you have a good or bad experience. Please endeavor to pack appropriately.

The gorilla trekking experience

The gorilla trekking experience usually starts with rising very early in the morning.  After your breakfast at the lodge, your driver-guide will drive you to the park headquarters, where you are expected to be by 7:00 am for a briefing about the whole experience and what you should expect to see and experience throughout the hike.

You will also be given guidelines that one should follow when doing the hike. The ranger will then place you in groups of eight and allocated gorilla groups to track. You can ask to be given a particular gorilla group if there is one that are attached to or would like to particular see, provided they are in the sector you are in.

You will embark on a gorilla hike thereafter which will see you going deep into the forest to find these gentle primates. The total duration for this activity usually takes 3-5 hours but can extend depending on the location of the mountain gorillas.

The hike can sometimes be as short as only 30 minutes. During the trek, be on the lookout to see other primates like chimpanzees, monkeys and many other animals like forest elephants and bush pigs, and so many different bird species.

The rangers and guides will continuously point out important aspects of the forest and anything worth to note throughout the hike. When you are soon approaching the mountain gorillas, you will be able to hear their sounds and the rangers will notify you in case you do not. You will then be asked to leave behind all your foodstuffs and extra baggage.

Once you meet these creatures, you will be allowed to be with them for an hour in which time you can spend watching them go about their life. They might mind you and be attentive to you and watch all that you do and the juveniles can even come up-close and touch you, or simply keep eating their foliage oblivious of your presence.

You can take pictures and videos if you wish to, but remember not to use flash cameras as they would cause the gorillas to be aggressive. After an hour, you will leave the mountain gorillas in their humble abode. You will then embark on a hike back to the headquarters with a lunch stopover where you eat what your lodge packed for you, all this in the jungles.

When you reach the park headquarters, you will be awarded a gorilla tracking certificate and you leave behind your gorilla permit since your trek is over and yet it is a single entry card. Your driver-guide will drive you back to your lodge where you can relax or proceed as per your itinerary.

What are the trekking guidelines?

For traveller’s own safety and also conservation purposes of the mountain gorillas and their habitat, some rules and regulations ought to be followed, say;

• A 7 meters’ distance away from the mountain gorillas must be observed at all times.
• Keep within your group
• Noise is not allowed and whispers if you really need to speak
• Avoid direct eye contact with the gorillas, this threatens them.
• Keep calm when a mountain gorilla charges. Follow whatever instructions your guide/ranger instructs you to do.
• Do not throw rubbish in the park. Carry back all that you came with.
• Do not eat near the mountain gorillas. Eating should be done at least 200 meters away.
• Do not touch the gorillas, you might just transmit contagious illnesses to them.

What are the chances that I will see the mountain gorillas?

It is really rare that mountain gorillas are not seen by trackers. It might take a longer time if it is that they moved further away since they never stay in the same place for long. Be rest assured of seeing these gentle creatures, but if really you do fail to see them, you will be given an opportunity to track the next day, if your schedule allows.

Gorilla Habituation Experience

Gorilla habituation involves travelers spending longer times in the presence of mountain gorillas for the sole purpose of having these gorillas accommodate human contact. During this time, travelers participate in naming, collecting and testing the gorilla stool, listening to informative talks from the experts and then also learn the different behaviors of these gorillas, like anger and stress and what could possibly trigger them.

To be allowed to do gorilla trekking, one needs to have a pass that can be purchased in Uganda for example from the Uganda Wildlife Authority at $1,500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for foreign residents and UGX750,000 for East African citizens.

In Uganda, gorilla habituation takes place from Rushaga gorilla sector, and since not many passes are available, travelers are advised to book in advance as well. Only 4 persons are allowed to take part in this activity every day.

How different is gorilla trekking from gorilla habituation?

• Gorilla trekking has travelers engaging with the gorillas for only one hour while gorilla habituation has travelers spending four long hours with them.
• Gorilla trekking is cheaper than gorilla habituation. The cost, however, is worth it.
• Gorilla trekking has up to 8 people allowed to trek while only 4 people are allowed to participate in gorilla habituation per day per group.
• Gorilla trekking has many gorilla groups available to be tracked while gorilla habituation has very few groups that are open to visitors.
• Gorilla trekking, thrilling as it is, can have other attractions added to it, say forest walk in Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda, golden monkey trekking in Rwanda and Uganda, volcanic hikes or a true safari experience in any part of the region like Tanzania, Kenya, Zanzibar, and many more destinations as you find fit. Contact your trusted tour operator to do this for you.